Chelsea, MA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 11:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m.
- Covered age
- Under 17 years old
- Base fine
- Not less than $50 per offense
- Parent liability
- Joint and several with the minor
- Exemptions
- Nine listed, incl. employment, emergencies
Summary
Chelsea bars anyone under 17 from public places or business premises between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. under Sec. 16-185. Parents who knowingly allow it, and business operators who knowingly let a juvenile stay past curfew, face the same noncriminal fine as the juvenile.
Juvenile means any person under 17 years of age. ... Youth protection curfew hours means 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day. ... (c)Prohibited acts.(1)A juvenile is prohibited from remaining in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.(2)A parent or guardian of a juvenile is prohibited from knowingly permitting, or by insufficient control allowing, a juvenile to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.(3)The owner, operator or any employee of an establishment is prohibited from knowingly allowing a juvenile to remain upon the premises of the establishment during curfew hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " Nine exemptions in subsection (d) cover common lawful reasons to be out, including being accompanied by a parent or guardian, running a parent-directed errand without a detour, traveling in interstate commerce, going to or from employment, an emergency, standing on the sidewalk in front of the juvenile's own home or a consenting next-door neighbor's home, attending a supervised school, religious or recreational activity, exercising First Amendment rights, or being married or emancipated. Before enforcing, Sec. 16-185(e) requires an officer to "ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being in the public place" and to cite only on a reasonable belief that a violation occurred and no exemption applies.
Establishment operators get their own safe harbor: notifying police that a juvenile is present and refuses to leave exempts the operator from liability under subsection (d)(2).
Violations & Fines
A violation carries a noncriminal fine of not less than $50 per offense under Sec. 16-185(f), with each day or part of a day treated as a separate violation. A minor's parents or legal guardian are "jointly and severally liable" for payment, and failure to pay results in a lien filed against the parents' or guardian's property covering the fine and administrative costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age does Chelsea's curfew apply to?
Can a teenager be out past 11 p.m. for a job?
Is the parent fined too if a curfew violation happens?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelsea
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle juvenile curfew.